1923 Polish Business Directory
for Tuchin (and Nearby Villages)

Following is a list of 303 names
taken from the 1923 business directory for Wojewodztwo
Wolynskie (Volhynia Province). The type of
business and its location (Tuchin proper or nearby
village) is listed after each name. The original
directory is in both Polish and French; occupational
names have been translated from the French. Surnames are
given in their Polish spellings exactly as they appear in
the directory. For those unfamiliar with Polish
spellings, just follow these rules of pronunciation:

Polish C is pronounced like English TZ.

Polish CZ is pronounced like English CH.

Polish J is pronounced like English I.

Polish SZ is pronounced like English SH.

Polish W is pronounced like English V.

Thus, the name spelled "Kac" in Polish is
equivalent to the English "Katz." Similarly,
"Szmulowicz" would be written
"Shmulovich" in English.

The business directory lists both Jews and non-Jews.
The list of names has been reproduced in its entirety
with no attempt made to ascertain whether individuals
were Jewish, Polish, Ukrainian, German, etc.
Nevertheless, the preponderance of identifiably Jewish
surnames in this list suggests that the large majority of
business owners in Tuchin were Jewish. Some local
industries (such as the manufacture of draperies) seem to
have been exclusively Jewish, or nearly so. But it is
also clear that Jews were represented in nearly all areas
of economic life in Tuchin.

Tanning, drapery manufacturing, milling, and commerce
in grain were among the important industries in Tuchin in
1923. The most popular type of business (largest number
of entries) was food (36 entries), followed by grains (26
entries) and shoemakers (17 entries).

Note - The directory includes listings for businesses
in certain villages that, though outside of Tuchin
itself, were part of the official Tuchin community. The
included villages are: Amelin, Czeslawin, Jadzin,
Kryniczka, Lucynow, Maciejowka, Marjanowka, Moszczany,
Sobowka, Woronow and Zelanka. For the locations of these
villages, see the map.
The majority of the village businesses (13 out of 24)
were windmills. The business directory also liststhe names of wlasciciele ziemscy,
the Polish landlords who owned large estates.